Comics

Review: ‘Sex’ #1

Published

11 years ago

March 7, 2013

Just the title alone is a pretty good reason to get hooked with Sex #1. As subtlety is thrown out the window, a lot of effort has been made to keep the storytelling on point. This is an interesting psychological drama about an emotionally-flawed man searching for a missing connection in the gritty cityscape.

WRITTEN BY: Joe Casey
ART BY: Piotr Kowalski
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: March 6th, 2013

Simon Cooke is frustrated with his personal and business life. He is never satisfied with his decisions as he stubbornly chooses to take over his business. For the past seven years, Simon has deserted Saturn City and now he returns to a place that doesn’t want him. Bored by his business meetings and associates, Simon wants more than a steady cash flow into his wealthy bank account. The seedy underbelly of Saturn City calls out to Simon, urging him to satisfy his sexual fantasies.

Because the title is so eye-catching, writer Joe Casey has to do more for his story and makes sure the plotline is entertaining enough for readers. You are going to reread the issue a couple of times because Casey doesn’t spell everything out and leaves room for interpretation. It took me the second time to realize the protagonist used to be a superhero and gave it all up. Originally, I thought this was a dark character study of a damaged man who is so tired of his previous life. During the night, he needs his thrills to let loose, but there is so much more involved.

In case you were wondering, there are sex bits in this issue, but not a whole lot. While the sex scenes are going on, Simon flashes back to a tragic event in his life. You can look at these scenes two different ways. Readers can see the protagonist as a mental case, who has a lot of serious psychological problems. Or, readers can see Simon as a tragically-flawed character, who may never get his chance at redemption.

For the sex bits, artist Piotr Kowalski handles the depiction tastefully. Kowalski’s illustrations never drift into pornography because he is depicting a provocative vibe. The panels are completely rich in patterns and primary colors. As Simon enters the sex den, Kowalski does something great visually with the strobe light effects from the disco ball. Readers will be in awe as to how much detail is involved with the two-pager.

The colors by Brad Simpson definitely make Kowalski’s imagery pop out. The futuristic Saturn City is divided into sexual categories for those with expensive and cheap tastes. The rich side of Saturn City is glowing in yellow hues, while the kinkier side is drowned out in purple and pink shades. Readers can also analyze why some particular words of Casey’s dialogue are emphasized in orange and blue tones.

For those looking for dazzling art and an interesting psychological drama, then definitely pick up “Sex #1.” Readers will have to wait and see if the “Sex” series is something more than a catchy title.

3.5/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – Jorge Solis

Related Topics:Image Comics Joe Casey Sex #1

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Comics

‘Witchblade’ is Getting Resurrected This Summer in New Comic Series from Top Cow and Image Comics

Published

1 week ago

April 18, 2024

Meagan Navarro

Witchblade, the popular comic series that initially ran from 1995 to 2015 and launched a TV series, is getting resurrected in a new comic series from Top Cow and Image Comics. It’s set to unleash heavy metal, black magic and blood this summer.

Look for the new Witchblade series to launch on July 17, 2024.

In Witchblade #1, “New York City Police Detective Sara Pezzini’s life was forever fractured by her father’s murder. Cold, cunning, and hellbent on revenge, Sara now stalks a vicious criminal cabal beneath the city, where an ancient power collides and transforms her into something wild, magnificent, and beyond her darkest imaginings. How will Sara use this ancient power, or will she be consumed by it?”

The series is penned by NYT Best-Selling writer Marguerite Bennett (Animosity, Batwoman, DC Bombshells) and visualized by artist Giuseppe Cafaro (Suicide Squad, Power Rangers, Red Sonja). The creative duo is working with original co-creator Marc Silvestri, who is the CEO of Top Cow Productions Inc. and one of the founders of Image Comics. They are set to reintroduce the series to Witchblade’s enduring fans with “a reimagined origin with contemporary takes on familiar characters and new story arcs that will hook new readers and rekindle the energy and excitement that fueled the 90’s Image Revolution that shaped generations of top creators.”

Bennett said in a statement, “The ability to tell a ferocious story full of monsters, sexuality, vision, and history was irresistible.” She adds, “Our saga is sleek, vicious, ferocious, and has a lot to say about power in the 21st century and will be the first time that we are stopping the roller coaster to let more people on. I’ve loved Witchblade since I was a child, and there is truly no other heroine like Sara with such an iconic legacy and such a rich, brutal relationship to her own body.”

“The Witchblade universe is being modernized to reflect how Marguerite beautifully explores the extreme sides of Sara through memories, her personal thoughts, like desire and hunger, in her solitude and when she is possessed by the Witchblade. So, I had to visually intersect a noir True Detective-like world with a supernatural, horror world that is a fantastic mix between Berserk and Zodiac,” Cafaro stated.

Marc Silvestri notes, “This is brand new mythology around Sara, and I can’t wait for you to fall in love with her and all the twists and turns. Discover Witchblade reimagined this summer, and join us as we bring all the fun of the 90s to the modern age and see how exciting comics can be. I can’t wait for you to read this new series.”

Witchblade#1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 17th, for $4.99 for 48 pages. And it’ll come with multiple cover variants.